But, "Based on our discussions with you, we think ... (the idea) is feasible ... and may enable ubiquitous use of hydrogen in the near-term," Eric wrote.

By "ubiquitous," Eric seems to imply Stockton's invention not only works but is practical and reliable enough to transform the energy marketplace. Stockton thinks so.

The 47-year-old Stockton spent 19 years in charge of ensuring that a co-generation plant at the Port of Stockton obeyed environmental laws. Roughly one-third of a power plant's expense is environmental compliance, he estimates.

So $300 million of the cost of a new $1 billion 1,000-megawatt gas turbine power plant is eliminated by the Dynamic Combustion Chamber, Stockton says.

He formed a corporation, SOG Partners, took two local partners, Robert C. Olson and Carl W. Glasgow, hired patent attorneys and retained securities specialists.

His next step is to go from the "bench model" built in an east Stockton warehouse to a prototype tested by UC Davis.

A descendant of Commodore Robert F. Stockton, the U.S. Navy man for whom the city of Stockton is named, Stockton has visions of cleaner Valley air, a U.S. no longer dependent on foreign oil, an Earth averting catastrophic climate change.

"I gave up a great job to pursue this," Stockton said. "This is the most creative thing God's ever given me."